A Speech On The Mind And Practice

The Salutatorian Addresses, given by Emily Nortnik, Shelbi Ledesma, and Hannah Branson, took the class of 2017 back through the last 13 years of their lives. There were good times and there were challenges, but together they faced life’s ups and downs while unknowingly making cherishable memories. Valedictorians, Lily Lockhart and Elizabeth Ward, graduated with GPAs above 4.3.

Good evening, parents, teachers, and fellow students. We are here tonight to honor our 8th graders from Heninger Elementary K-8 who have worked very hard to make to it where we are tonight. I’m one of the very lucky students that attended since pre-k and in my time here I have learned many things, not just educational but also life lessons as well and found many friendships. My fellow classmates and I are here tonight at our 8th grade promotion from Heninger Elementary. We are the graduating class of 2018!

First off I would like to congratulate everyone for making it this far. I would like to thank my classmates, my friends, and my family. I especially want to thank our teachers, for always supporting and encouraging us. If it weren’t for the people who support us daily, we would not be where we are today. I would like everyone to turn to their families, and teachers to thank them for all that they have done for us.

Good morning Principle Boyd, proud parents, faculty, and fellow graduates, to this extraordinary celebration breakfast, in honor of Our Lady of Grace Catholic School Class of 2017. Yes, I am graduating 8th grade, but I still have to make my bed, be nice to my siblings, do my chores, I cannot drive a car, I must continue putting my Iphone into my locker every night, so that I will not be grounded!  Nevertheless, I am graduating from Our Lady of Grace Catholic School, and I feel like I found a pot-of-gold at the end of the rainbow.

Dear administrators, teachers, parents, beloved friends, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 8th grade graduation. It’s a pleasure to be standing in front of you today on this beautiful day to express the happiness we all feel.

Good afternoon Mr. Rebello, Dr. DiBiase, Ms. Copeland, Governor Raimondo, administration, faculty, family, and friends. On behalf of the Class of 2016, I would like to thank each person here today, for their perpetual dedication and support throughout our four years at Mt. Hope High School.

"Many people love their [golden] retrievers and their sunny dispositions around children and adults. Could people be chosen in the same way? Would it be so terrible to allow parents to at least aim for a certain type, in the same way that great breeders . . . try to match a breed of dog to the needs of a family?"

Wow. We finally made it. For some, it has been a year, three years, six years, or maybe even ten years in McGivney. Throughout these years, we have created many special moments together as a family. Good morning/afternoon/evening to all parents, teachers, priests and of course, the graduating class of 2017. Today, we celebrate our successes and lessons learned which have brought us to this very moment. I would like to take the time to appreciate the people who have helped to get us into places where we all are today as individuals, filled with wisdom, strength, and pride.

Teachers, members of faculty, families, parents, friends and most importantly, the class of 2017. Congratulations on your achievement! Today, standing before all of you, has made me conflicted. I came here 7 years ago. Adjustments had to be made in order to adapt to a country so different from the one I used to live in. As an immigrant coming from a third world country, I found a vast difference between the quality of education and life. My entire childhood, my parents dreamed of giving their children a better education and chance for the future, so that I could have opportunities that they did not. Sacrifices, Leaving everything behind, blood, sweat, and tears. It took A LOT to make the decision of moving here— to accomplish the pursuit of

Good evening, colleagues, family, friends, staff, and my fellow graduates. It is an honor for me to speak on the behalf of those in my graduating class this evening. This evening we will be recognized for our months and years of hard work, dedication, and passion for what we do. Thank you to our friends and family for their unending support and to the professors and staff here at Walden University for their knowledge, passion, and motivation throughout our time here.

Fellow Class of 2016, we did it! I never imagined that this day would come as quickly as it did. It seemed like only weeks ago that I was just a freshman trying to figure out how exactly I could get to the fourth floor, because a senior told me in full confidence that that was where my class was, and being extremely confused and stupid when I found out that there was no such thing. Getting to this day has been a crazy trip for me. Honestly, I never thought that I would make it to this point; with a diploma in the rearview mirror and the opportunity to pursue whatever I wanted ahead of me. A big chunk of my family never made it past 10th grade, so I feel very blessed to be standing here among my fellow peers right now. My entire life had been influenced profoundly by choices I never made for myself, such as growing up the way I had, and being forced into Mr. Burrows’ engineering class, and visiting Haiti has led me to my latest assertion; that I would become an architect and join the Peace Corps. To truly understand why I made this decision I have to explain the “choices” that were previously mentioned.

Coming back to the present tonight we all all here because we went down a twisty path and went over a mountain. Metaphorically speaking. We have successfully completed our high school experience with the help of teachers , fellow students , families and parents. Tonight we accomplished part of our path and after today is next part of a road which will eventually lead to new experiences, new choices and impacts , overcoming challenges but overall will lead to victory. Don't worry about what the future holds in store but embrace all life that it has to offer. Congratulations to the class of 2017, but just remember to work it, love it and continue on your path because great things are on there

Hello everybody. My name is Erik Place and I am here on the behalf of multiple people. I am here because of my friends, my family. But most importantly, the ENTIRE class of 2017.

Getting to walk down the stage to receive my diploma, surrounded by my magnificent peers. We’ve all worked so hard to get here. It’s been nothing short

We are all leaving the nest and flying in different directions. Some of us will move on to a school just across campus, while others will leave to a school thirty minutes away from here. I know we are all anxious and excited to be leaving the building that some of us have been practically living in since kindergarten. I have created so many memorable moments here that I will never forget. Today, I ask you to look around you. Who do see before you? I see parents that have worked hard to give us the opportunity to learn and are now so proud of our growth. I see teachers who have taught us so much more that just Algebra or English. Then, I see us, the formal leaders of the school. We are known as the eight graders, but I see us as a giant 40 person family. We are united by the common factor of our graduation. So today as we receive our much-coveted diplomas in our navy cap and gowns, I ask you to indulge in these last following days with your fellow